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Language Tests To Become Mandatory For Some Immigrants Hoping To Come To Canada

Posted: 04/11/2012 12:57 pm Updated: 04/11/2012 2:42 pm

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SASKATOON - Some immigrants hoping to say hello or bonjour to Canada are now going to have to prove they actually know how to say it.

Starting this July, certain people immigrating under the provincial nominee program will face language testing.

The tests will be mandatory for those applying for semi- and low-skilled jobs and will assess listening, speaking, reading and writing abilities.

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney made the announcement in Saskatchewan, which took in over 5,300 immigrants under the provincial nominee program in 2010.

The program allows provinces to cherry-pick immigrants they want to meet labour needs but Kenney says there's concern that it's also being used to unite families.

He says he intends to work more closely with provinces to ensure that stops.

The new requirement is one of a number of changes to the immigration system discussed in last month's federal budget.

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FOLLOW CANADA POLITICS

SASKATOON - Some immigrants hoping to say hello or bonjour to Canada are now going to have to prove they actually know how to say it.Starting this July, certain people immigrating under the provincial...
SASKATOON - Some immigrants hoping to say hello or bonjour to Canada are now going to have to prove they actually know how to say it.Starting this July, certain people immigrating under the provincial...
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Rachel Décoste

Rachel Décoste: Welcome to Canada, But Only if You're Fluent

Minister of Multiculturalism, Jason Kenney, announced this week Canada would no longer welcome newcomers who were not proficient in our official languages. This policy flies in the face of common sense and the 500 years of experience Canada was built upon.

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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
gravescanada
670 Fans
 
09:56 AM on 04/15/2012
Yes, because historically when people from Italy, Germany, etc. came to Canada decades ago they ALL spoke English, right? I mean, its not like they came here, and their children learned the language and taught the parents.
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georgee2
My Canada Includes Everyone
112 Fans
08:42 AM on 04/12/2012
Welcome to the new Canada. Personally I prefer the old one. This government is nuts.
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Puddinpops
47 Fans
02:46 AM on 04/12/2012
What's so bad about uniting families?
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Liban CZ
329 Fans
10:09 AM on 04/12/2012
Grandma, grandpa, on their last QUEST........
Hospital bills, huge....
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Puddinpops
47 Fans
02:43 PM on 04/12/2012
Why should young people who immigrate pay taxes to fund your healthcare, and your g-ma's but not their own? Without immigration our population would be declining, with less young workers to pay taxes to fund healthcare, cpp, ect. Most older people who come to Canada are sponsored by family members and therefor are not eligible for public assistance or any more then basic healthcare, and must pay out of pocket or pay for insurance for everything else including prescription drugs and hospital stays. Applicants for permanent residence must go through medical screening and applications for those who would cause excessive demand on health or social services in Canada would be denied. Sponsors must meet certain income requirements in order to sponsor family members. The elderly and those who would be otherwise unable to be employed are the responsibility of their family, and make up a tiny fraction of those who immigrate.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
John Devlin
26 Fans
07:18 PM on 04/13/2012
The article doesn't provide sufficient context, so I can understand why you're confused.

There are a few different ways to immigrate to Canada: as an economic migrant, as a "member of the family class," as a refugee, or as a provincial nominee.

Kenney is taking the position that the provincial nominee program is not intended to be used to reunite families; it exists to deal with labour shortages. (As opposed to "family class" migration, which exists specifically to reunite families in Canada).

You can take or leave Kenney's argument, of course.
But it would be nice if the article at least explained it.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
piceaglauca
The picture says it all....
294 Fans
 
12:00 AM on 04/12/2012
Seems to be an important step to safety in the work place.
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Liban CZ
329 Fans
07:40 PM on 04/11/2012
You mean, you have to speak the Canadian?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
logicanada
Blogger, radio co-host, writer, editor, voice-over
1850 Fans
 
06:38 PM on 04/11/2012
Where I work they are hiring Commonwealth immigrants for menial work and to a person they wish they'd stayed home due to lower wages and higher cost of living.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
piceaglauca
The picture says it all....
294 Fans
 
12:01 AM on 04/12/2012
Don't people ask questions before they come or is this a basket of hope?
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huffffnpuffff
63 Fans
08:13 AM on 04/12/2012
They're always free to leave, I suppose
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
arkymorgan
Nobody knows the trouble I've been...
837 Fans
06:19 PM on 04/11/2012
At least he's honest:

"...Kenney says there's concern that it's also being used to unite families.

He says he intends to work more closely with provinces to ensure that stops."

Let's all repost this when he starts courting the immigrant vote in 2015.
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Liz Wilson 2
“a small group can change the world
329 Fans
11:29 PM on 04/11/2012
Huge numbers of Chinese men were good enough to do the hard labour to build the railway across Canada but not considered sufficiently appropriate to allow them to bring their families over. It was a heartless government policies then and it is a heartless policy now.

I agree, lets make sure this is front and center next time we get to vote (unless dear leader uses the majority to declare himself king for life)
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
John Devlin
26 Fans
07:21 PM on 04/13/2012
In fairness to the Minister, his argument appears to be that the provincial nominee program should not be used to reunite families in Canada, not that families should not be reunited in Canada.

...Whether you agree with that argument or not, it's actually coherent if you understand the structure of the Canadian immigration system.
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SuesW
40 Fans
05:57 PM on 04/11/2012
so if you are rich or highly educated and you can't speak English well that's okay then .... why do people vote for this party
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TonyOnly
Truth matters.
334 Fans
05:59 PM on 04/11/2012
because their skin is also white and they're afraid of those who aren't
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Retro Dude
76 Fans
09:40 PM on 04/11/2012
so your a racist too
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Retro Dude
76 Fans
09:41 PM on 04/11/2012
if your rich you can pay someone to speak "Canadian" for you.
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therainisgone
MT
337 Fans
05:37 PM on 04/11/2012
if you can say government is too big and cut taxes---------you will be on the fast track
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hollace
I told you I was sick
1133 Fans
05:27 PM on 04/11/2012
so that will keep out all the conservaives from below the Mason Dixon Line....?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Francmon
Homo homini lupus
65 Fans
04:56 PM on 04/11/2012
"The tests will be mandatory for those applying for semi- or low-skill jobs..." As for the high skill workers required in the Alberta oil fields, they may speak any language they wish, as long as they contribute to the destruction of our environment and help raise the profit margins of oil companies.
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Reader2222
40 Fans
04:35 PM on 04/11/2012
"Want into Canada? You Better Speak the Language."

Am I the only one who sees the irony in the ungrammatical headline?
If you want a career that requires writing skill, you HAD BETTER know proper grammar.
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goleafsgo
A Lie stands on one leg, Truth on two.
2723 Fans
05:22 PM on 04/13/2012
LOL!
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Ian Llangan
Your Invisible Sky Friend Is Morally Abhorrent
852 Fans
03:32 PM on 04/11/2012
Well a few sensible first steps. Too bad they were not taken right after Canada-wrecker Trudeau left office. This multi-kulti mindfog has given us a cesspool of non-viable "hangers-on" as immigrants. The LEAST they can do upon arrival is to have mastered either of the official languages of their new nation, preferably both.
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A Tired Canadian
40 Fans
03:56 PM on 04/11/2012
Unfortunately the crowd that entered when mindfog was in power and most likely well entrenched in this country and would be hard to get rid of, saying that I believe they are gainfully employed by those coporate giants of Canada- Bell Mobility and Rogers, they all work at the call centers they have. Customer care they call it, when your bill suddenly increases by $2/mo you phone to ask why- but forget it after waiting 45 mins for this creature to answer your call and then after 30 mins of not understanding a word that is said to you , you forget the whole thing.
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CharlesBrown008
91 Fans
04:19 PM on 04/11/2012
Wait, are you saying increases in your utility bills is because you are being served by immigrants? Have you considered how much higher your bills would be if there are no immigrant subscribers to help bear the costs or immigrant servers working at near minimum wages to keep costs down? You must be dumber than Ian.
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Ian Llangan
Your Invisible Sky Friend Is Morally Abhorrent
852 Fans
04:58 PM on 04/11/2012
Sad but ultimately true.
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CharlesBrown008
91 Fans
03:59 PM on 04/11/2012
From where do you get your information, SunTV or Fox News? Those "non-viable hangers-on" as you call them are probably now your betters with higher education and less dependency on welfare. Stupid bagger.
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Ian Llangan
Your Invisible Sky Friend Is Morally Abhorrent
852 Fans
04:56 PM on 04/11/2012
Your suppositions are risible at best and you know nothing of my daily experience in shooing these "hangers-on" from my path. Now go back to sorting through what you stole from your fellow peasants this morning at the Food Bank that I support with my generous monetary donations.
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rr78
61 Fans
03:24 PM on 04/11/2012
Uniting families is a bad thing??? These cons are a nasty subspecies.
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Retro Dude
76 Fans
09:55 PM on 04/11/2012
In my small office the two mid forty Indian guys are now reunited with there 75 plus parents from India. After being refused into Canada numerous times (burden because of health conditions) the parents finally found an Indian doctor in Hamilton that would give them a health green light. Rest assured with their heart bypass surgeries and other heath concerns addressed everyone is fine.

True story and if your ok with this then I guess I am too.
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Liz Wilson 2
“a small group can change the world
329 Fans
11:41 PM on 04/11/2012
I have less problem with an older family member coming to join their working children in Canada and using medical services then I do with American's coming into Saskatoon to stay with Canadian friends for a few months before the baby is born in Saskatoon.

I also have less problem with immigrant elderly parents using Canadian medical services then I do with the government using Front Porch employees to go door to door canvasing for the conservative party.

I also have less problem with immigrant elderly than I do with Ministers that are serial liars in the house.

I wonder how many heart bypass surgeries you can get for the cost of gazebo's in Clemment's riding or for MacKay playing toy soldier flying around in military aircraft.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
sgillhoolley
Occupy the discussion.
357 Fans
03:08 PM on 04/11/2012
"The program allows provinces to cherry-pick immigrants they want to meet labour needs but Kenney says there's concern that it's also being used to unite families.

He says he intends to work more closely with provinces to ensure that stops."

I'm sorry, is this a typo, or does Kenney truly have a problem with uniting families?
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samlee
49 Fans
04:19 PM on 04/11/2012
Immigration is split into groups. If someone coming here on the skills sheet,then their approval is based on that criteria. If someone is coming here on a family approval, that is a different criteria. I applaud this decision. He's saying that people are abusing the system and he is trying to fix that. I also applaud the mandatory English/French. The cost of teaching, print, and every other service in twenty languages, can be cut back significantly by ensuring that immigrants speak English because at some point, as we all complain about more money needed for health care, education, improvements, we understand we can gain it if we lessen the load in other departments.
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